Vehicle-top.



M. S. FINLEY.

VEHICLE TOP.

APPLICATION mm saw. 29. um.

Emma May. 4,1919;

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 1,"

314mm H01;

M. S. FINLEY.

VEHICLE TOP. APPLICATION FILED sEPTJg. I917.

Patented Mar. 4,1919.

LZQQMGQ.

3 SHEETSSHEEI.2.

Patented Mar. 4,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 3.

M. S. FXNLEY.

VEHICLE TOP.

APPLlCATlON mp0 szPnza. 1911.

the top when the latter is portion of the top ninn snares MAX soLoMon FINLEY, on innmnaronis, malaria.

Q VEHICLE-TOP.

1,296,062. Specification of letters Patented Mar. 41-,

Application filed September 29, 191.7. Serial No. 1294,00 1.

To-all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX SoLoMoN FIN- LEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Tops, of which the following is a specification.

The present nvention relates to vehicle tops, preferably those for automobiles, and one of the primary objects is to provide a foldable top that is automatically extensible eliminating the necessity of manual operation and adjustment.

Another and important object is to provide an efiective protector for the topwhen the same is in folded condition.-

tains and mechanism by curtains can be automatically connected to i in its collapsed condition and extended with said top.

- An embodiment of the invention is illus trated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view partially in section showing the top and s1de curtains extended.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View illustrating the top in collapsed or folded condition, 'with the'cover removed to avoid confusion.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2.

Figs. 1 and 5 are small views of diagrammatic character, illustrating the top respectively in extended and folded condition.

' Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view illus trating the connection between one of the side curtains and the top.

Fig. 7 is a detail view at right angles to Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a View in elevation of the front and one of the side curtains when set up or extended.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of one of the controlling latches, and

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the electrical circuits that may be employed for the controlling latches.

Similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings,

In the embodiment disclosed, a portion of the body of the vehicle is shown. and is designated 11. It will be understood that this may be of any well known or desied character. The top consists of a frame preferably constructed as follows: A main bow The central portions of Still another object is to provide side our which said side shown at 32 the lower 12 is employed having the lower-ends of its side arms pivoted to the body, as illustrated at .13. Pivoted to the side arms of the main bow-12, at 1%, is a second how 15. A third bow 16 is disposed in advance of the bow 15, when the top is extended, and a fourth or front bow 1'? is also employed that extends beyond the bow 16. Links 18 are pivotally connected at their front ends, as shown at 19, to the rear ends of thi bow 17. these links are pivoted as illustrated at 20 to intermediate portions of the how 16, and the rear ends of said links 18 are pivoted at 21 to the upper per t-ions of the second bow 1.5. The said links 18 carry at their rear ends rearivardly projecting hooks The rear ends of the third how 16 are pivotally connected to the front ends of links 23, said links being pivoted at their rear ends, as shown at 24:, to the upper portions of the main how 12. Links 25 are'pivoted at their front ends, as shown at 26, to intermediate portions of the front how 17 and have their rear ends pivoted as shown at E2? to the upper or forward port-ions of the how 16. The dis tance between the pivots 26 and 27 is substantially the same as the distance between the pivots 19 and 20. Another set of links 28 are pivoted at their front ends to ears rigidly carried by the second how 15 and are pivoted at their rear ends, as shown at 30', to intermediate portions of the links 23. At the lower ends of the bows 12 are lined offset lingers 31 to which are pivoted as ends of links that are pivotally connected to the side arms of the second bow 15, as shown at 3d ed jacent to the pivots 1%.

This frame carries suitable cover 35 at tached at its front ends to the front portion of the bow 17, and at its rear end to the upper end of a case or envelop 36. This case or envelop is preferably of sheet metal, having end walls 37 and a rear wall 38, the front being open. -The upper end of the main" bow 12 is located in the upper rear corner of the case 36, to which it is suitably pivoted, as indicated 211339. The lower portion of the case is also provided with guideways, preferably in the form of curved slots 40, in which are engaged pins 4&1 carried by the body. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the top is collapsible wholly within the case, and said case, by reason of its mounting, will llti till illilt till I the links 28. enough to automatically raise the top from purpose of automatically extending said top, coiled springs 42 are employed connected at their front ends to the hooks 22 of the links 18, and having their rear ends connected as illustrated at 43 with the rear portions of These springs are powerful its collapsed position as illustrated in Fig. 2, and extend it to the condition shown in Fig. 1. To prevent this automa 1c action, latches are employed that engage/the front how 17 to secure the top in its collapsed condition; These latches comprise electro-magnets all mounted on the end wa ls 37 of the case 36 and having sliding armatures 45 that engage in suitable sockets lb formed in the bow 17, as shown in Fig. 10,, or otherwise engaging said bows as may be desired. The electromagnets are included in a circuit 47 that also includes a suitable source of electr' all energy 4 and a controller switch or button 49 that is located at the front of the car in convenient: relation to the operator. It will thus be evident that if the top is in collapsed condition. all that is necessary to raise and extend it is for the operator to close the circuit, whereupon the electromagnets willbe energized, thus causing their armatures to be withdrawn into the same. This, by releasing the top, permits the springs 42 to operate and extend the same to the condition shown in Fig. 1.

llithin the corners of tl e case 36 are located curtains 50 mounted on ordinary spring rollers that are journaled, as shown at 51 in said case. These curtains may be provided with any desired arrangement of flexible windows and doors 52. They are provided at their front ends with arins 58 pivoted, as shown at 54, and engaged by coiled springs 55, surrouruiling the pivots. These springs serve to swing the arms upwardly when the top is in folded condition, as shown in Fig. 2. arms are provided with eyes 55 arranged to engage over pins 56 carried by the front how 17. The arms, however, are normally held against this swinging movement by latches in the form of plunger armatures 57 operating in electro-magnets 58, the said magnets being mounted on the inner sides of the end walls 37 of the case 36 in a position to hold the arms depressed, as indicated in Fig. 2. The elect-ro-magnets 58 are in a circuit 59, which int-hides the source of electrical energy 48 and also a circuit controller 60 suitably located in the liront of the vehicle, where it is convenient to the operator of said vel'iicle.

As already explained, the top when col.- lapsed, folds within and. is housed bv the case 86, and. the upper or outer portion of this case is then covered by a closure 63 of The free ends of the sheet material that extends across the front portion of the how 17, and tits over the upper or outer portion of said case.

ll'it'h this construction, it will be evident that if it-is desired to extend the top without the sidecurtains. the closing of the circuit 47 by the controller 49 will elicct this operation as already described. If. however, the

side curtains are tobe utilized, the operator first closes the circuit 59 by means of the controller (30. This energizes the electromagnets 58. causing the witlulrawal of the latches 57. The arms 5 are thus released and will swing to positions with the eyes engaged over the pins as. It now the circuit 47 is closed the top being released. will be automatically elevated and the curtains carried along with it. The front ends of these curtains may then be moved to closed position with respect. to the wind shield 61. to which they may be attached by suitable fasteners indicated at'tizl in Fig. 8.

From the foregoing. it is thought that the ing case mounted on the rear portion of the vehicle, an extensible top for the vehicle, comprising a cover, and a collapsible frame, the cover and frame being toldable into the case and 'depressible therewith, said frame including a bow pivotally mounted on the vehicle and also having a pivotal mounting in the upper portion of the case.

2. In a structure of the character set forth, the con'ibination with a vehicle. of an extensible and rearwardly foldable depressible top therefor, including a rear bow pivotally mounted on the vehicle and swinging rearwardly to a. depressed position, a relatively rigid case for the top having the upper portion of the bcw housed therein and pivoted thereto, said case having curved guideways, and guiding elements on the vehicle engaged in the guideways.

' 3. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination with avchicle, of a rear-- wardly collapsible and h rwardly extensible top therefor, a swinging; case for receiving the to when collapsed. and roller curtains mounted within the case and swinging therewith. I

l. In a structure of the character set forth, the. combinationwith a vehicle, of a rearwardly collapsible and forwardly extensi ble top therefor, a swinging case for receiving the top when collapsed, roller curtains mounted within the case and swinging therewitl and means for detachably connecting the curtains to the top when the latter is collapsed to cause their extension with said top.

In a structure of the character set forth, the combination with a vehicle, of a swinging support at the back of the vehicle, extensible curtains carried by the support, an extensible. and collapsible top for thevehicle movable toward and from the support, and means for detachably connecting the curtains to the top when both are collapsed to effect their simultaneous extension and to permit,the'extension of the top without extending the curtain.

(3. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination with a vehicle, of an automatically extensible top therefor, side curtains, and means for automatically connccting the side curtains to the top to effect their movement simultaneously therewith.

7. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination with a vehicle, of an automatically extensible top therefor, side roller curtains, latches for automaticall connecting the side curtains to the top to effect their movement simultaneously with the top and to permit the extension of the top independently of the curtains, and means for controlling the action of the latches.

8. In a structure. of the character set forth, the combination with a vehicle, of a swinging case mounted on the rear portion thereof, an extensible tOp collapsible into the case, roller curtains located in the case, latches for connecting the curtains to the top to permit thesimultaneous movement of the same, electrical devices for holding the latches in inactive positions, and electrical means for actuatin' g the holding devices, including a controlling device at the front of the vehicle.

9. In a structure of the character-set forth, the combination with a vehicle, of a swing ing case mounted on the rear portion thereof, an extensible top movably mounted on the vehicle and collapsible into the case, and a cover for the case carried by the front portion of the top and separate from the case, said cover being movable with the top to a position across said case over said top when the latter is collapsed therein.

10. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination with a vehicle, of a swinging' case mounted on the rear portion thereof, an extensible top movably mounted on the vehicle and collapsible into the case, said top including a front. bow, and acover for the case carried by the front bow and extending across'said case over the top when the latter is collapsed 111 said case.

11. In a structure of. the character set forth, the combination with a collapsible and automatically extensible top, of means for constantly urging the top to its extended condition, a latch for holding the top against such movement, means for actuating the latch, including a'controller in the frontof the vehicle, side curtains, automatic latches for when the latter is in its collapsed condition, means for holding the latches in inactive position, and operating mechanism for ;said means, including a controller located at the front of the vehicle;

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature inlthe presence of two witnesses,

I MAX SOLOMON FINLEYQ lVitnesses I A. E. Lisnnn, JOHN W, JOHNSTON.

connecting the side curtains to the top (iii 

